SUNDAY - REDEDICATION OF ENGLAND - OUR LADY'S DOWRY

TOMORROW at Midday, at the National Shrine of Our Lady in Walsingham, in every English Cathedral, and in every Parish Church in the land, this our country will be rededicated to Our Lady as the "Dowry of Mary", the title first conferred by King Richard II, see our first post HERE. It is this event which is depicted in the Wilton Diptych above, King Richard, with our patron saints, kneels before Our Blessed Lady, surrounded by Angels wearing his badge and bearing our country's flag, and receives in return the blessing of Our Lord. (click image to enlarge.)

ALL CATHOLICS are encouraged, in this time of isolation, to join in at home at 12 noon, and to raise our voices to Heaven in honour of our Blessed Mother. Do not forget the clocks go forward tonight!

The prayers may be dowloaded HERE, or are given below.

ACT OF ENTRUSTMENT OF ENGLAND TO THE VIRGIN MARY

Based on Prayer of Erasmus 1532, Dedication of England to the Mother of God 1893, 

Prayer for England, Cardinal Griffin’s Act of Consecration 1948, Act of Consecration St John Paul 1982.

Prayer

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon England thy “Dowry” and upon us all who greatly hope and trust in thee. 

Response

We your faithful people assembled here offer you this country in which we live. Once it was yours, all its children were your children and you were honoured throughout England as its Protectress and its Queen. Again do we consecrate it as your Dowry, and entrust it to your maternal care.

Prayer

By thee it was that Jesus our Saviour and our hope was given unto the world; and He has given thee to us that we might hope still more. 

Response

To you we entrust the Church, which invokes you as Mother. On earth you preceded her in the pilgrimage of faith. Comfort her in her difficulties and trials. Make her always the sign and instrument of intimate union with God and of the unity of the whole human race. To you, Mother of the human family, and of the nations, we confidently entrust the whole of humanity with its hopes and fears. Let it not lack the light of true wisdom. Guide it to seek freedom and justice for all. Direct its steps in the ways of peace. Enable all to meet Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Prayer

Plead for us thy children, whom thou didst receive and accept at the foot of the Cross, O sorrowful Mother. 

Response

Pray, O Holy Mother of God, for the conversion of heart of the people of England, restoration of the sick, consolation for the troubled, repentance of sinners, peace to the departed. Queen of Peace, pray for us and give to the world the peace for which all peoples are longing, peace in the truth, justice and charity of Christ. Give peace to the nations and to the souls of all, that in peace, the Kingdom of God may prevail.

Prayer

Intercede for our separated brethren, that with us in the one true fold they may be united to the supreme Shepherd, the Vicar of thy Son. 

Response

May your prayers bring back this country to the fullness of its ancient faith. May your intercession lead us to a closer union with your divine Son. We offer you all the people of this land, especially those who know you so little or not at all. May all in our country know Christ, the light of the world and its only Saviour.

Prayer

Pray for us all, dear Mother, that by faith fruitful in good works we may all deserve to see and praise God, together with thee, in our heavenly home. 

Response

May we who follow your Son, be fruitful in the good work of building a culture of life in our world, where all human life is treasured and the gift of God’s creation is respected and cared for, so that all may share the fruits of Gods generous love.

V. Pray for us O Holy Mother of God 

R. That we may be made worthy of the Promises of Christ.

O alone of all women, Mother and Virgin, Mother most happy, Virgin most pure; sinful as we are, we come to see you who are all pure, we salute you, we honour you as we may with our humble offerings. May your Son grant us, that imitating your most holy manners, we also, by the grace of the Holy Spirit may deserve spiritually to conceive the Lord Jesus in our inmost soul, and once conceived never to lose Him. Amen.

Our Lady of Walsingham, pray for us
Our Lady of Walsingham, pray for us
Our Lady of Walsingham, pray for us

DOS TUA VIRGO PIA HÆC EST, QUARE REGE MARIA